[Elecraft] K1 Front Panel missing IC Sockets ???

[Kurt Cramer]

I the 70's the national optical observatory bought computers form
Varian! Yes the guys that bring you those glow in the dark goodies that
make BIG watts. Anyway I found myself in the computer maintenance group
on the mountain. These systems were FAST. They would rival some systems
from the 80's. HOWEVER the ic's were all in sockets. Many had silver
plated pins! Silver plated pins are the best to solder into a board, but
when the pins corroded in the sockets we had a big problem. Have you
ever pulled all the chips out of a card(50 ics) to put them in coin
cleaner. No? Then you missed one of the most fun parts of electronic
preventative maintenance. I know that silver oxide is suppose to conduct
just like silver?! 
If the manufacture says solder 'em in, then solder 'em.

73, Kurt
W7QHD (since 1951)
web page: http://W7QHD.tripod.com